Opportunity to Support VITA Grant Appropriations

By MB -
From our friends at NCTC
Congress is currently deliberating over Fiscal Year 2013 appropriations – including Community VITA Matching Grant funding. One of our champions, Representative Xavier Becerra, has drafted a letter asking the Appropriations Committee to include $15 million to expand and strengthen the Community VITA program. Please call your U.S. Representative to ask them to sign on to this letter!

We're working under strict time constraints: signatures must be collected no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon Eastern) on Friday, March 16. Please take a moment to call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Representative.

This is an important step in ensuring that VITA programs have the support they need in order to assist millions of low- to moderate-income families across the nation. Act now! Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask your U.S. Representative to sign on to Rep. Becerra's letter in support of VITA FY13 funding.

Here is a sample script you may use when communicating with a Congressional staffer on the phone:

Hello, my name is (name) and I work for (organization's name) in (city, state) . I am calling about the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides free tax preparation and financial services to (# of clients served by your organization) low- and moderate-income workers in (city) . These services are available largely due to the Community VITA Matching Grant, which is administered by the IRS. Please join your colleague, Rep. Becerra, in supporting this modest investment in hardworking families across the nation. Thank you.

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